Transplant services

When an organ is compromised by trauma or begins to fail, a transplant may be the most suitable treatment. Transplants involve removing a healthy organ or tissue from a donor to replace a diseased organ, blood or bone marrow in a recipient.

Find a Doctor Get Directions Heart Patient Referral Form

Heart transplant program in Dallas, Texas

At Medical City Heart Hospital, our heart transplant program is designed with specialized care that you can trust.

When experiencing advanced heart failure, we have complete cardiovascular care that includes medication, lifestyle change recommendations and surgical procedures. If heart transplantation becomes necessary, we care like family by providing a personalized healthcare plan. The transplant team has performed more than 500 heart transplants since the program's beginning and consistently ranks among the top performing in transplant centers across the country.

Do I qualify for a heart transplant

A heart transplant may be your best treatment option after your team of specialists has exhausted all medication and other therapies. You may need a heart transplant if you have one of the following conditions:

Ischemic cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis
Congenital (present at birth) heart disease
Postpartum cardiomyopathy
Valvular heart disease

For inpatient transfer requests, please call (866) TX-SHOCK. For an outpatient evaluation, please call (972) 940-9520 or fax patient transfer to (972) 940-9534.

Heart transplant process

After following a treatment strategy that ranges from conservative to invasive, the best option for a return to normal living may be heart transplantation. This is considered when the underlying cause of heart weakness cannot be remedied.

Our expert clinical care team will perform extensive evaluation to ensure which medications will be taken to prepare your body to accept your new heart. This process includes:

Cardiac evaluation, functional stress test and right heart catheterization
Blood work to evaluate major organ function
Pulmonary evaluation with chest X-ray
Abdominal sonogram and computed tomography (CT) scan of the head

Once we have completed evaluation, our multidisciplinary clinical care team meets formally to determine eligibility in placing patients on the national waiting list. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains the national list and is directly involved with the local organ procurement agency and our transplant center. Wait times can vary based on medical urgency, blood type, body size and location of donor organ among others.

A transplant financial coordinator who will work with you to verify all insurance benefits before the process begins.

Heart transplant recovery

Once on the list, we all look forward to the "call." Our team of heart failure cardiologists and transplant cardiac surgeons are involved in evaluating every donor offer.

You can expect a 7-10 day stay in our healing environment after heart transplantation. Our team will monitor all aspects of your recovery and a transplant coordinator will provide instructions and support after discharge.

Establishing a support system

It is important during this life-changing process to identify a family member or friend to be available as your support system. We will educate you and your support person because better communication means better care. Your support team should be available to transport you to clinic appointments and schedule procedures that will be needed after discharge.

Medical City has performed more than 500 heart transplants and, if the need arises, we will provide compassionate care in an environment where excellence is elevated.

Living Gift Support Group

The Living Gift Support Group is held several times a year at Medical City and is a great place to meet other transplant patients and learn about community resources.

For more information about the support group, please call (972) 940-9520.

Cardiac arrest and heart failure patient survives, thrives after ECMO and life-saving transplant

While at a pool party with friends, 34-year-old Tim Clement collapsed in sudden cardiac arrest. He required ECMO, the most advanced form of life support, and was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood effectively. A heart transplant was the only option to save his life from a critical condition caused by a rare genetic mutation.